System and method for suturing biological material

Abstract

A suturing system including at least one drive gear with a plurality of outward protrusions and a needle with a first end, a second end, and a plurality of indentations therebetween wherein the plurality of indentations engage with the plurality of outward protrusions of the drive gear to circularly rotate the needle. Additional suturing systems and a method of suturing biological material are also included.

We claim: 
     
       1. A suturing system, comprising:
 at least one drive gear with a plurality of outward protrusions; and 
 a needle with a first end, a second end, and a plurality of indentations therebetween; 
 at least one driveshaft with opposing ends; 
 a drive mechanism connected to the drive gear by way of the at least one driveshaft connected to the drive mechanism at a first opposing end and the at least one driveshaft connected to the drive gear at a second opposing end; 
 at least one support body, the at least one support body comprises a proximate end and a distal end; and 
 a head mounted on the at least support body and perpendicular to the distal end of the at least one support body; 
 wherein the plurality of indentations engage with the plurality of outward protrusions of the drive gear to circularly rotate the needle; 
 wherein the at least one drive gear rotates with the needle; and 
 wherein a rotational plane of the needle is perpendicular to the support body. 
 
     
     
       2. The suturing system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism is at least one of a stepper motor, a servo motor, a brushless motor, and a microgear DC motor with an encoder. 
     
     
       3. The suturing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first end comprises a pointed end of the needle to penetrate a biological material. 
     
     
       4. The suturing system of  claim 3 , wherein the second end of the needle comprises a pointed end to penetrate the biological material. 
     
     
       5. The suturing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a suture connected to the needle. 
     
     
       6. The suturing system of  claim 5 , wherein the needle further comprises an attachment point located between the first end and the second end, and wherein the suture is connected to the needle on at least one of the first end, the second end, and the attachment point. 
     
     
       7. The suturing system of  claim 1 , wherein the needle comprises an arcuate shape with a contacting surface, and wherein the plurality of indentations is provided in a repetitive machine pattern in the contacting surface. 
     
     
       8. The suturing system of  claim 1 , wherein the needle comprises at least one of a toroidal helix shape and a cylindrical helix shape, the at least one of the toroidal helix shape and the cylindrical helix shape comprise a contacting surface, and wherein the plurality of indentations are a repetitive machine pattern on the contacting surface. 
     
     
       9. The suturing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle, wherein the drive mechanism is mounted to the handle. 
     
     
       10. The suturing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a removable suture spool attached to at least one of the handle and a biological material, and a suture wound around the removable suture spool; the suture connected to the needle. 
     
     
       11. The suturing system of  claim 10 , wherein the needle further comprises an attachment point between the first end and the second end, and wherein the suture is connected to the needle at least one of the first end, the second end, and the attachment point. 
     
     
       12. The suturing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a suture connected to the needle, the needle comprising an attachment point between the first end and the second end, and wherein the suture is connected to the needle on at least one of the first end, the second end, and the attachment point. 
     
     
       13. The suturing system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one drive gear is mounted to the head and rotates with the head. 
     
     
       14. A suturing system, comprising:
 a handle; 
 a drive mechanism mounted to the handle; 
 a support body having a proximate end and a distal end, the proximate end connected to the handle; 
 a head rotatably mounted on the distal end of the support body, whereby the head rotates perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support body; 
 a pivot drive mechanism connected to the head on one end and to the handle on the other, wherein the pivot drive mechanism causes the head to rotate; 
 at least one drive gear with a plurality of radially mounted outward protrusions and a through axle with opposing ends, each opposing end having an engaged portion, the at least one drive gear mounted to the head; 
 at least one driveshaft with a driven end and an engaging end, the driven end connected to the drive mechanism, and the engaging end in mating contact with the engaged portion of the at least one gear; and 
 a needle with a first end, a second end, and a plurality of indentations therebetween, wherein the plurality of indentations engages with the plurality of outward protrusions of the drive gear to rotate the needle in a circular manner; and 
 wherein a rotational plane of the needle in the head is perpendicular to the support body. 
 
     
     
       15. The suturing system of  claim 14 , wherein the needle comprise an arcuate shape with a contacting surface; and wherein the plurality of indentations are a repetitive machine pattern on the contacting surface. 
     
     
       16. The suturing system of  claim 15 , further comprising a suture connected to the needle, the needle comprising an attachment point between the first end and the second end; and wherein the suture is connected to the needle on at least one of the first end, the second end, and the attachment point. 
     
     
       17. A suturing system, comprising:
 a handle; 
 a drive mechanism and a pivot drive mechanism mounted to the handle; 
 a support body having a proximate end and a distal end, the proximate end connected to the pivot drive mechanism; 
 a head mounted on the distal end of the support body, whereby the head rotates with the support body when the pivot drive mechanism is actuated; 
 at least one drive gear with a plurality of radially mounted outward protrusions mounted to the head; 
 at least one driveshaft connecting the drive mechanism and the at least one gear; and 
 a needle with a first end, a second end, and a plurality of indentations therebetween, wherein the plurality of indentations engage with the plurality of outward protrusions of the drive gear to rotate the needle in a circular manner; 
 wherein a rotational plane of the needle is perpendicular to the support body. 
 
     
     
       18. The suturing system of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the drive mechanism and the pivot drive mechanism is at least one of a stepper motor, a servo motor, a brushless motor, and a microgear DC motor with an encoder. 
     
     
       19. The suturing system of  claim 17 , wherein the first end comprises a pointed end to penetrate biological material. 
     
     
       20. The suturing system of  claim 17 , wherein the second end comprises a pointed end to penetrate biological material. 
     
     
       21. The suturing system of  claim 17 , further comprising a suture connected to the needle. 
     
     
       22. The suturing system of  claim 21 , wherein the needle further comprises an attachment point between the first end and the second end, and wherein the suture is connected to the needle on at least one of the first end, the second end, and the attachment point. 
     
     
       23. The suturing system of  claim 17 , wherein the needle comprises an arcuate shape with a contacting surface, and wherein the plurality of indentations are a repetitive machine pattern on the contacting surface.